In the third episode of RE:LIVE we travelled back to Marseille in 2010, when Cardiff Blues lifted their first Challenge Cup following a stunning victory over hot favourites Toulon.
10 years have flown past since that day at Stade Velodrome, where Wales’ Capital Region became the first Welsh side to win European silverware.
Cardiff Blues legends Martyn Williams, Casey Laulala and Jamie Roberts joined CBTV to re-live the 28-21 victory over a Toulon side containing stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, Tana Umaga and Sonny Bill Williams.
Academy graduates Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Bradley Davies all registered on the scoresheet. Centre Roberts, who now features for Super Rugby outfit Stormers, recalled his try-scoring moment.
The 94-times capped Welsh international said: “It was an awful celebration. I put my ear out to the crowd.
“My dad gave me a bollocking for it after the game. The first thing he said to me was ‘good win, congratulations, but don’t ever celebrate like that again. It was like a footballer.’
“Richie Rees didn’t like it either. He had to drag me away.
“It was an unbelievable side. One thing I do remember from this game was the team meeting beforehand in the hotel.
“We were staying by the harbour in Marseille, and Dai played a piss-take video with all the mishaps of the year. Everyone thought it was going to be serious, but it got everyone relaxed. Fair play, it was very funny.
“It felt like an away match there, especially playing Toulon in Marseille. It was awesome re-watching that because there’s so much of that game that I’ve completely forgotten about.”
Flanker Williams came within an inch of dotting down for a score of his own, but Xavier Rush’s floating pass found the hands of wing Halfpenny, who put Dai Young’s side in control with their second score of the afternoon.
Williams recalls: “It had glory written all over it, but Rushy just lobs me. I was that close to going for it as I thought I was the end man.
“But Pence shouts and I pull my hand away quickly. It was a hell of a try though. I thought I was in.
“It was one of those games where you would never de-brief it as a team. You just win it and everyone goes off on tour or on holidays.
“You see pictures of the boys involved there though, like Dai Flan, Darren Allinson, Daf Hewitt, Bubba [Scott Andrews]. It was a hell of a crew when you look at it.
“Quite a few came through the academy. I remember being gutted at the trophy lift. It’s being picked up and it’s right in front of my face in all of the photos. I went for the David May and get to the front but it was a school-boy error.”
As it happens, Laulala is now a member of the coaching staff at Toulon. He came up against fellow All Black, Tana Umaga, who played his final game for the French outfit on that day in Marseille.
Laulala added: “When I was with the All Blacks, Tana helped me when I was coming up. I played against him so many times over in New Zealand, him with Hurricanes and myself with Crusaders.
“It was so surreal that we caught up again and played against him again. We had so many memories together and he’s a legend of the game and a real gentleman as well.
“Both of us were Samoans, so it’s always a real treat when we get to catch up together.
“It was all about the manner which we played that year. We literally went out and just played. Our set piece was never the best.
“The confidence we had and the team that we had, we have the ability to go out and do some special things.
“We were going out there and killing teams. Teams in the Amlin Cup couldn’t live with us. The only one that was respectable was in the semi final against Wasps, and that’s only because it was raining so much.
“10 years ago. Wow!”